Putin attributes Moscow attack blame to West and Ukraine
Vladimir Putin is shaping a narrative within Russian society about the Friday attack, attributing blame to the West and Ukrainians. "The Russian propaganda machine is keen on inciting a desire for vengeance among the people," says Dr. Michal Marek, a disinformation expert, during an interview with Wirtualna Polska.
3:33 PM EDT, March 27, 2024
Last Friday, terrorists targeted the Crocus City Hall concert hall in Krasnogorsk, close to Moscow. The audience came under gunfire, and explosive devices were set off. A subsequent fire caused the building’s roof to collapse.
The Islamic State of Khorasan Province, an Afghan offshoot of ISIS, has claimed responsibility for the assault. Russian officials assert that the attack's four perpetrators have been apprehended and that they are not Russian nationals.
The Kremlin is suggesting that the attack, which had been previously flagged by the United States, was orchestrated by Ukrainians. Putin has been crafting a story since the weekend that pins the guilt on them, indicating they deserve retribution, exemplified by the recent massive strike on Kiev.
The main narrative: blaming Ukrainians and the West
Dr. Michal Marek, author of the monograph "Operation Ukraine" and a disinformation specialist, explains to Wirtualna Polska that "the primary narrative forming around the attack assigns most of the blame to Ukraine and Western nations".
"The narrative was solidified yesterday by a statement from Vladimir Putin. The immediate responsibility was placed on the Islamic State, but it was quickly insinuated that there were others guiding these terrorists, specifically pointing fingers at Ukrainians or Western countries," the expert recalls.
He notes that today, messages are being disseminated, notably by Nikolai Patrushev, which directly accuse the Ukrainian state.
Encouraging a desire for vengeance
"We now have a consistent message - shortly after the attack, the finger-pointing at Ukrainians began. What we're seeing is a continuous narrative," he remarks. He notes that "the Russian propaganda machinery is intent on stirring up a thirst for revenge within society".
He gives an example, “There's the circulation of photos and footage displaying harsh treatment of captives.” He mentions shocking instances such as "photos showing a car battery connected to someone's genitals or a detainee having an ear cut off." These actions aim to desensitize people to violence, he believes.
"It's about radicalizing the populace. By fostering such a craving for vengeance and normalizing barbaric behaviors, the objective is to lay the blame on Ukrainians," he explains.
A concerning trend
"Putin is preparing the society for upcoming mobilization waves," he adds. "The next batch of recruits will be primed for combat and will readily commit war crimes against Ukrainian civilians, with such behavior being acceptable in Russian society. This represents a deeply troubling trend," he states.
He believes this strategy is also targeted at NATO citizens, including Poles. "It's a crucial tactic. And it's a tactic that, I fear, is proving effective in Russian society. The actual perpetrators of the attack become irrelevant; what matters is that Russians are convinced the culprits were either the West or Ukrainians purportedly steered by the West. This narrative persists in the minds of many Russians," he underlines.
Macron's statement on the attack in Russia
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that "the Islamic State entity orchestrated and executed the Moscow attack," according to French intelligence.
"This group also aimed to execute several operations on our turf," he disclosed to journalists during his visit to French Guiana on Monday. "In light of the Islamic State’s admission of the attack and the threats facing our nation, we have decided to elevate the alert status to the highest level," Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced on the X platform.
